Eight students renovate a house in Ross River skills program

ROSS RIVER – Eight students at Yukon College’s Dena Cho Kê’endi campus in Ross River are learning carpentry, plumbing, electrical and heating system home maintenance skills by renovating a 40-year-old house donated by the Ross River Dena Council (RRDC). When complete, the rehabilitated Pyrite Street building will be given back to RRDC to help meet housing needs in the community.

The six male and two female students are supported by two coordinators and three journeyperson instructors who specialize in carpentry and plumbing, electrical, and heating systems. The crew has already replaced or repaired the doors, as well as tackling dry-wall, sub-flooring, and framing issues in the house. The students are currently assisting the replacement of electrical wiring, and will next turn to troubleshooting and maintaining the furnace, replacing flooring, repairing the plumbing, and installing the bathroom and kitchen cabinets and fixtures. The program began on February 15th and runs until April 8th.

Besides donating the building, RRDC is also donating some building supplies to the program. The Housing Maintenance program is also funded by BMC Minerals and the Government of Yukon’s Advanced Education/Labour Market Programs, Yukon Housing Corporation, and Community Development Fund.

Upon graduation, the eight students will have had an introduction to various trades. Their skills and experience will also help them plan and assist with basic home repair jobs as well as other building maintenance in their community, or with exploration and mining camp maintenance.

“We’re really trying our best to do a good job on the house for whoever ends up living here,” said Robby Dick, a 24-year-old student in the program. “I’m getting a good overview of different trades. It’s my first time helping with electrical and plumbing, but I’ve liked framing the best so far, as I’ve always had an interest in carpentry.”

Following the program Dick hopes to gain employment with BMC Minerals this summer or take a course with the Dechinta Centre for Research and Learning in the Northwest Territories.

“This program is a great benefit to Ross River. It provides a tremendous opportunity for students to learn valuable skills within our home town,” said Verna Nukon, RRDC councillor. “Thank you to all the funders, and to the instructors and students for being so actively involved.”

"I echo the comments made by councillor Nukon.  This is exactly the type of program that we would like to see for the members of our community,” said RRDC chief Jack Caesar.

"I’m proud that our department is able to support this innovative program, which gives students hands-on experience in trades that are needed in their community," minister of education Doug Graham said. "I wish the best of luck to program participants and I look forward to hearing how it helps shape their future career choices."

“We did not hesitate to support this initiative in Ross River. We see long term benefits in this training both for the local community and for our current and future operations in the area,” said Jim Newton, chief engineer at BMC Minerals. “The Housing Maintenance program fits well with our commitment to achieve positive legacy outcomes wherever we operate.”

“I’m pleased that we’re a partner in this important initiative, which not only builds construction capacity, but also helps to address housing needs in Ross River,” minister responsible for Yukon Housing Corporation Stacey Hassard said. “Our relationship with Yukon College has benefitted the many Yukoners seeking to learn more about home construction and repairs.”

Program instructors have also made themselves available at the campus in the evenings to teach local residents basic home maintenance repairs such as replacing bug screen in windows, caulking, faucet repair, troubleshooting furnace basics, and replacing broken power outlets.